130th Engineer Brigade

• World War II Origins: The 130th Engineer Brigade was first constituted in 1943 as the 1303rd Engineer General Service Regiment and played a crucial role in Europe during World War II. • Normandy Landings: The unit participated in the D-Day landings, providing vital engineering support for the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944. • Postwar Inactivation and Reactivation: After World War II, the 130th Engineer Brigade was inactivated, but was reactivated in Germany during the Cold War to support U.S. Army Europe. • Cold War Service: Stationed in Hanau, Germany for decades, the brigade was a key engineer unit in NATO, capable of supporting both combat and humanitarian operations. • Desert Storm Deployment: The 130th Engineer Brigade deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, supporting coalition forces with critical engineering tasks. • Balkan Operations: During the 1990s, the brigade played a significant role in peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Kosovo, constructing base camps and rebuilding infrastructure. • Operation Iraqi Freedom: The brigade was deployed to Iraq multiple times, where it cleared roads of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), constructed bases, and rebuilt key infrastructure. • Pacific Relocation: In 2007, the 130th Engineer Brigade moved from Germany to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, marking a major shift to the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility. • Humanitarian Missions: The brigade has supported numerous humanitarian and disaster relief missions in the Pacific region, including responses to typhoons and tsunamis. • Motto and Insignia: The brigade’s motto is “Sappers In!” and its insignia features a castle – the traditional symbol of Army engineers – reflecting both heritage and mission.